Montagnana, Antonio

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Montagnana, Antonio

Montagnana, Antonio, Italian bass who flourished from 1730 to 1750. After singing in Rome (1730) and Turin (1731), he was engaged by Handel for his London opera company at the King’s Theatre, where he created the roles of Varo in Ezio (Jan. 15, 1732), Altomaro in Sosarme, Rè di Media (Feb. 15, 1732), and Zoroastro in Orlando (Jan. 27, 1733). He also sang in Handel’s oratorios, being the first to sing Abinoam and the Chief Priest of Israel in Deborah (March 17, 1733) and Abner in Athalia (July 10, 1733). From 1733 to 1737 he was a member of the Opera of the Nobility in London. He then appeared with Heidegger’s company at the King’s Theatre, where he created the roles of Handel’s Gustavo in Far amondo (Jan. 3, 1738) and Ariodante in Serse (April 15, 1738). From 1740 he was a member of the royal chapel in Madrid.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire